The invention relates to television systems, more particularly to multiplex transmission systems for the transmission of television pictures, of the kind used for example, in colour television or of similar'images which are line-scanned there being no need at the receiving end to use for the separation of the signals used for transmission either a colour switch having line, field or frame image frequency or an auxiliary carrier wave or dot-signal of correct shape, frequency and. phase.

In multiplex transmission systemsfor three television signals the most important signal, for example the brightness signal, hereinafter referred to as the mainsignahfrequently occupies the greater part of the available video frequency bandwidth.

The llirst supplementary signal, for example a colour signal, is caused to modulate an auxiliary carrier wave comprising one or two entire or partial side bands and lies entirely within the frequency range of the main signal, the frequency of the auxiliary carrier wave being an odd multiple of half the. line frequency.

The second supplementary signal, likewise a colour signal, is. also caused toy modulate an auxiliary carrier Wave comprising one or two entire or. partial side band and lies either entirely without the frequency range ofthe main signal or. entirely or in part `within it, but always so that overlapping of the frequency range required for the first supplementary signal does not occur.

When the frequency range used for the second supplementary signal lies entirely or in part within the frequency range of the main signal, also this second auxiliary carrier wave has a frequency which is an odd multiple of half the line frequency, since asis well known, all of the frequencies in the band used for a television signal are notnsed to the same extent.

Analysis of the video signal obtained by scanningA the. image according to a lineA frame shows that the energy of the signal is concentrated for the greater part ,at frequencies adjacent the harmonics of the line, frequency.

If the frequency ofan auxiliary carrier wavelies` between two harmonics of they line frequencyand a video` signal of the same line frequency as the main signal is.

caused to modulate it, the most intensely occupied frequency ranges of this modulated auxiliary carrier wave will just fall between the least occupied ranges of the main signal. The interference inA the reproduction of the main signal caused by the modulated auxiliary `carrier` wave will be precisely of opposite polarity-in successive images. The interference intheimage formed by the mainfsignal willbecompensated' by the eye and. thus generally not be inconvenient. The, same; remark; applies toi the interference produced, by theV main signal in the signal: caused to modulate the auxiliary carrier wave.

In addition, experiment has shown thatv it isA preferable for anauxiliary carrier wave and its. side-bands tolie in the frequency range. of the main signalecomprising the. highest` frequencies of this signal, since the lower; fre.- quencies are more essential for/the primary formation of the image.

assess? Patented June 10, 1958 lf the main signal is required` to have a frequency spectrum which extends across the entire available frequency band and if'two auxiliary carrier waves and their respective side bands are each located in a separate frequency range of the available band at auxiliary carrier wave frequencies which are equal to an odd multiple of half the line frequency, one of the auxiliary carrier waves and its side bands will become located by necessity in the frequency range of the main signal comprising the lower frequencies of this signal. The system according to the invention mitigates this disadvantage and is characterised in that the frequency band of each of k supplementary singals each consisting of an auxiliary carrier wave and one or two entire or partial side bands k l, coincides wholly or in part with the frequency band of the other kl supplementary signals and in'that the auxiliary carrier waves of the said k supplementary signals have frequencies which are m V(Mirah 1)' times the line frequency, nm and m being integral numbers and m being equal` to l, 2, 3 k. In the case of three-colour television k is equal to 2.

The system according to the invention and the transmitter and receiver for use in this system will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, given by way of example, in which:

Fig. l shows the frequency spectrum of two television signalsin the transmission channel,

Fig, 2 shows the frequency spectrum of two television signals at the transmitter end,

Fig. 3 the frequency spectrum of three television signals at the transmitter end in. accordance with the system of the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic embodiment of a transmitter according to the invention,

Fig. 5 a diagrammatic embodiment of a receiver associated with a transmitter asshown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 shows a frequency spectrum for 6 television signals at the transmitter end in accordance with the system of the invention.

Referring now toV the figures, Fig. l shows the frequency spectrum of two television signals in a transmission frequency band which extends` fromk a frequency fdd-fe t0 a frequency fd+fa Such a frequency spectrum is produced by causinga carrier wave fd to be modulatedby two signals extending across frequency bands from,y 0 to fa and from fb to fc, as shown yin Fig'. 2, and by partially rejecting the lower side band.

Thus the main signal extends to-the frequency fa, the second signal from the frequency fb to the frequency fc and thelast-mentioned is produced by causing a second video signal to modulate an auxiliary carrier wave having a frequency fhwhich is anodd multiple of half the line frequency and comprisinga lower side band extending to fb and an upper side band extending to fc.

If themain, signal is, required toextend to fm, a third signal which may alsobe requiredY to be transmitted in the availablefrequency band willI havefto. be located somewhere between the frequencies 0 and fb by causing this signal toy modulateV an: auxiliary carrier wave having a frequency which is an odd multiple of half Vthe line frequency.

v However, this gives rise-totheabove mentioned difficulty. of `interfering'with the lower frequencies'of the main signal. i Y

Fig. 3 shows. the frequency spectrum of the signal requiredA :to be transmitted; in the system according to the Y invention.

The available frequency band is assumed to be again limited by the frequency fa so that the main signal extends from a frequency to f2.

An auxiliary carrier wave fm is caused to be modulated by a second signal, for example primarily in the upper side band, and an auxiliary carrier wave fh2 is modulated by a third signal, for example primarily in the lower side band, fm being less than fh2.

To minimize the mutual interference of the concentrations of energy of the three signals the frequency of one of the auxiliary carrier waves is made (n+1/3) times the line frequency and the frequency of the other auxiliary carrier wave (m4-9%) times the line frequency, n and m being whole numbers.

Upon modulation, if required, of a carrier wave fd at the transmitter end and demodulation at the receiver end, the signal shown in Fig. 3 is obtained in the receiver. This signal is supplied, for example as a whole, to a control electrode of a picture tube, and also to two selective detection devices, one of which is tuned tothe frcquency fhl and the other to the frequency fh2. The output signals of these detection devices may be supplied to the control electrodes of two separate picture tubes respectively. Each of the picture tubes is found to contain apart from the signal desired, interference due to the two other signals which, as a result of the `above mentioned choice of the auxiliary carrier wave frequencies, is 21r/3 radians out of phase with the interference in a preceding image and consequently is compensated after three images.

Strickly speaking this is only the case when a stationary image is transmitted.

However, if the frame frequency is not excessively small, this will also approximately be the case with moving objects and, due to the inertia of the eye, which is adjusted to mean Vvalues in time, the influence of the interference is substantially counteracted from the optical point of View.

Fig. 4 shows a block schematic diagram of a simplified embodiment of a transmitter for use in the multiplex transmission system according7 to the invention.

The devices I, II and III each comprise a pick-up camera by which the main signal and the two other signals respectively are produced and also comprise, if desired, further devices by which the signals provided by the cameras are utilised in a given manner.

Thus, for example, I may provide the green image signal and the high frequencies of red and blue, II the low frequencies of the red image signal and III the low frequencies of the blue image signal (so called mixed i highs).

The main signal provided by I is fed to a low-pass filter F1 having a cut-off frequency f2.

The output signal of II is fed to amodulator M1 in which it is caused to modulate an auxiliary carrier wave having a frequency fm equal to (n+1/3) times the linefrequency. This carrier wave is taken from a device O which comprises a suitable oscilator and is controlled by means of the synchronizing pulses received at L. The said carrier wave, which is modulated by the output signal of II, is fed to a band-pass filter F2, the upper cut-off frequency of which is less than fh2, the lower being less than fhl.

The ouput signal III is fed to a modulation M2, in which it is caused to modulate a carrier wave having the frequency fh2, which is (m-t-2/3) times the line-frequency.

The output signal of this modulator is fed to a bandpass filter F3, the lower cut-off frequency of which ex-V ceeds fm, the upper exceeding fm.

The output signals of the three lters F1, F2, and F2 are then additively combined in a booster device A.

The `combined signal may be transmitted by wire or,

. as shown in Fig. 4, be fed to a transmitter aerial Z upon its modulation of -a high-frequency carrier wave in a modulator M3 and subsequent band-width limitation in a band-pass filter F4.

It is obvious that instead of being made (n-t-) times the line-frequency it is equally possible for fm to be made (n-l-2/) times the line-frequency. However, in that case fh2 is (m-i-/s) times the line-frequency.

Fig. 5 is a block schematic diagram of a simplified embodiment of a receiver ina multiplex transmission sys- :tem according to the invention for use in receiving signals transmitted by the transmitter shown in Fig. 4.

The signal received by a receiving aerial R is fed to a detection stage DT which produces a signal as shown in Fig. 3.

The output signal of DT is fed on the one hand to a picture tube B81, on the other to two band-pass filters F5 and F6.

The pass range of the band-pass filter F- has an upper cut-off frequency which is smaller than fh2 and a lower cut-off frequency which is smaller than fm, and the pass range of the band-pass lter F6 has an upper cut-off frequency exceeding fh2 and a lower cut-off frequency exceeding fm.

The output signals of F5 and F5 are fed to detectors D1 and D2 respectively.

The combination F-Dl constitutes a detector circuit tuned to the carrier wave fm yand provides the signal by which fm is modulated together with interference produced by the two other signals, which, however, due to the above mentioned choice of the carrier wave frcquencies is substantially counteracted in the picture tube B82 `as far as the eye is concerned.

The combination F6-D2 similarly constitutes a detector circuit tuned to the carrier wave fh2 and provides the picture tube B83 with the signal which is caused to modulate fh2 together with interference due to the two other signals.

The images produced on the three picture tubes have to be combined optically, but as an alternative use may be made of a three-colour tube.

In this case the output signals of DT, D1 and D2 havel to be fed each to the control electrode of the associated electron gun. In accordance with the nature of the television signals combinations `of the output signals of DT, D1 `and D2 may be supplied to the respective control electrodes of the picture tubes or of the three-colour tube, as is the case, for example, in the N. T. S. C. colour television system.

In a normal black-and-white receiver the signal transmitted by the transmitter shown in Fig. 4- will produce a similar image as in the picture tube B81 fof the receiver for the system according to the invention. The main signal thus produced therein contains sufficient informative value to achieve a highly satisfactory result.

Owing to the above choice of the auxiliary carrier wave frequencies the interference due to the two other signals will be substantially counteracted as far as the eye is concerned.

In addition, the receiver for use in the system according to the invention is suited to the reception of a signal transmitted by a normal black-and-white transmitter. The only thing required for this purpose is for example, to supply the output signal of DT to all of the three picture tubes.

Suitable modulators, filters, oscillators, detectors, and additive circuits, used in the preferred form of practicing the invention, are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore have not been explained in detail.

The system according to the invention may be extended by providing k auxiliary carrier waves in a main signal; in this case one or more auxiliary carrier waves and their side bands may become located in the frequency range comprising the lower frequencies of the main signal. In this event, much value is consequently placed on transmission of more than two supplementary signals within a limited frequency range, and not first of al1 on their being transmitted in an optimum manner,

gasses? 5 as is theY caseV with transmission oftwo supplementary signals.

If each signalJ comprising anI auxiliary-carrier wave and its side bands coincides at least inpart with all the other signals comprising auxiliary carrier waves and their side bands, in order to minimize interference of othersignals in a given signal., the saidf auxiliary carrier waves must beplaced in frequencies'which are 1` 2 lc (mfr-+r) (mfr-ii) @um times'the line frequency,V nl, n2 nkfbeing integral numbers.4

'Ihusiinterference is compensated in (k+1) times the picture time; Fig;l 6 shows, by Way of example, a frequency spectrum according to the system of the invention as available at the transmitter end for 6 television signals such as may be usedl for stereo-colour television. Since in this case there are 5 auxiliary carrier waves, compensation. of the interference will be ensured in 6 pictures.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiplex systemfor the transmission and reception of television pictures which are line-scanned comprising transmitting apparatus including means for producing a main signal representative of lpicture brightness information and having a predetermined frequency band, andmeans for producing a plurality of supplementary signals, each of said supplementary signals cornprising. an auxiliary carrier wave and at'least one side band, lying in said main signal frequency band and having a frequency band which coincides at least in part with the frequency bands of the other signals of said supplementary signals, said auxiliary carrier waves of said supplementary signals having frequencies which are was times the line frequency, k being equal to the number of supplementary signals, nm and m being integral numbers and m being equal to l, 2`, 3 k; and receiving apparatus for said main signal and said plurality of supplementary signals, said receiving apparatus including a plurality of selective detectors arranged so that the mth ofsaid detectors istuned to afrequency which is wie times the line frequency.

2. A transmitter in a multiplex system for the transmission of television pictures which are line-scanned comprising transmitting apparatus including means for producing a main signal representative-of picture brightness information and having a predetermined frequency band, and means for producing a plurality of Vsupplementary signals, each of said supplementary signals comprising an auxiliary carrier wave and at least one side band, lying in said main signal frequency band and having a frequency band which coincides at least in part with the frequency bands of the other signals of said supplementary signals, said auxiliary carrier waves of said supplementary signals having frequencies which are times the line frequency, k being equal to the number of supplementary signals, nm and m being integral numbers and m being equal to l, 2, 3, k.

3. In a multiplex system for the transmission and reception of television pictures which are line-scanned and wherein there is produced a main signal representative of picture brightness information and having a predetermined frequency band and a plurality of supplementary signals, each of said supplementary signals comprising an auxiliary carrier wave and at least one side band, lying in said main signal frequency band and having a frequency band which coincides at least in part with the frequency bands of the other signalsA of said supplementarysignals, said auxiliary carrier waves ofsaid supplementary signals having frequencies which are (Mari) times the line frequency, k being equal to the number of supplementary signals, nm and m being integral numbers and m being equal to l, 2, 3, k, is used; a multiplex receiver comprising means for intercepting and demodulating saidV main signal and said plurality ofl supplementary signals, and a plurality of selective detectorscoupled to said demodulating means and arranged so that the mth of said detectors is tuned to a frequency which is (metti-1) times the line frequency.

4. A multiplex system for the transmission and reception of signals. representing. the primary colors in color television pictures which are line-scanned comprisingia first pick-up camera apparatus for producing amain signal lhaving a predetermined. frequency band and including` signals representing one of said primary colors and the high frequencies of the other primary colors, a first filter circuit coupled to said first pickup camera and havingV a cut-off frequency equal to said main signal frequency band, a second pick-up. camera apparatus for producing signals representing a. second. primary color, a first modulator coupled to said second apparatus, a third pick-up camera apparatus for producing signals representing a third primary color, a second modulator coupled to said third apparatus, a pluse synchronized oscillatory circuit, said oscillatory circuit being adapted to` supply a first auxiliary carrier wave having, a frequency equal to (n+1/a) times the line frequency to said first modulator and to supply a second auxiliary carrier wave having a higher frequency equal to (m-l-2/s) times the line frequency to said second modulator, n and m` being whole numbers, a first band-pass filter circuit coupled to said rst modulator and having an upper cut-off frequency which is less than the frequency of said second auxiliary carrier wave and a lower cut-olf frequency which is within said main frequency band and less than the frequency of said first auxiliary carrier, a second bandpass filter circuit coupled to said. second modulator and r having a lower cut-off frequency which exceeds the frequency of said-first auxiliary carrier wave and an upper cut-offA frequency which is within said main frequency band andwhich exceeds the frequency of said second auxiliary carrier wave, the lower cut-off frequency of said second band-pass filter circuit being lower than the upper cut-o frequency of said rst band-pass filter circuit, an adder coupled to each of said filters for additively combining the signals which pass through said filters, means for transmitting said combined signals, means for receiving said transmitter signals, a first television image reproducing device coupled to said receiving means, a third band-pass filter circuit coupled to said receiving means and having upper and lower cut-off frequencies which correspond to the upper and lower cut-o5 frequencies, respectively, of said rst band-pass lter circuit, a second television image reproducing device, a first detector interposed between said second device and said third band-pass filter circuit, a fourth band pass lter circuit coupled to said receiving means and having upper and lower cut-off frequencies corresponding to the upper and lower cut-off frequencies, respectively, of said second band-pass filter circuit, a third television image reproducing device, and a second detector interposed between said third device and said fourth band-pass filter circuit.

5. A transmitter in a multiplex system for the transmission of signals representing the primary colors in color television pictures which are line-scanned comprising a first pick-up camera apparatus for producing a main sigsignals representing one of said primary colors and the high frequencies of the other primary colors, a low-pass filter circuit coupled to said first pick-up camera and having a cut-off frequency equal to said main signal frequency band, a second pick-up camera apparatus for producing signals representing a second primary color, a first modulator coupled to said second apparatus, a third pick-up camera apparatus for producing `signals representing a third primary color, a second modulator coupled to said third apparatus, a pulse synchronized oscillatory circuit, said oscillatory circuit being adapted to supply a first auxiliary carrier wave having a frequency equal to (n+1/s) times the line frequency to said first modulator and to supply a second auxiliary carrier wave having a higher frequency equal'to (mi-lJ/a) times the line frequency to said second modulator, n and m being whole numbers, a first band-pass filter circuit coupled to said first modulator and having an upper cut-off frequency which is less than the frequency of said second auxiliary carrier wave and a lower cut-off frequency which is within said main frequency band and less than the frequency of said first auxiliary carrier, a second band-pass filter circuit coupled to said second modulator and having a lower cut-off frequency which exceeds the frequency of said first auxiliary carrier wave and an upper cut-0E frequency which is within said main frequency band and which exceeds the frequency of said second auxiliary carrier wave, the lower cut-off frequency of said second band-pass filter circuit being lower than the upper cut-off frequency of said first band-pass filter circuit, an adder coupled to each of said filters for additively combining the signals which pass through said filters, and means for transmitting said combined signals.

6. A receiver in a multiplex system for the transmission of signals representing the primary colors in color television pictures which are line-scanned, said signals being produced by means including a first pick-up camera apparatus for producing a main signal having a predetermined frequency band and including signals representing one of said primary colors and the high frequencies of the other primary colors, a low-pass filter circuit coupled to said first pick-up camera and having a cut-ofir frequency equal to said main signal frequency band, a second pick-up camera apparatus for producing signals representing a second primary color, a first modulator coupled to said second apparatus, a third pick-up camera apparatus for producing signals representing a third primary color, a second modulator coupled to said third apparatus, a pulse synchronized oscillatory circuit, said oscillatory circuit being adapted to supply a first auxiliary carrier wave having a frequency equal to (n+1/3) times the line frequency to said first modulator and to supply a second auxiliary carrier wave having a higher frequency equal to (nr-l-Z/s) times the line frequency to said second modulator, n and m being whole numbers, a first bandpass filter circuit coupled to said first modulator and having an upper cut-off frequency which is less than the frequency of said second auxiliary carrier wave and a lower cut-off frequency which is within said main frequency band and less than the frequency of said first auxiliary carrier, a second band-pass filter circuit coupled to said second modulator and having a lower cut-off frequency which exceeds the frequency of said first auxiliary carrier wave and an upper cut-off frequency which is within said main frequency band and which exceeds the frequency of said second auxiliary carrier wave, the lower cut-ofi frequency of said second band-pass filter circuit being lower than the upper cut-off frequency of said Vfirst bandpass filter circuit, an adder coupled to each of said filters for additively combining the signals which pass through said filters, and means for transmitting said combined signals, said receiver comprising means for receiving said transmitted signals, a first television image reproducing device coupled to said receiving means, a third band-pass filter circuit coupled to said receiving means and having upper and lower cut-off frequencies which correspond to the upper and lower cut-off frequencies, respectively, of said first band-pass filter circuit, a second television image reproducing device, a first detector interposed between said second device and said third band-pass filter circuit, a fourth band-pass filter circuit coupled to said receiving means and having upper and lower cut-off frequencies corresponding to the upper and lower cut-off frequencies, respectively, of said second band-pass filter circuit, a third television image reproducing device, and a second detector interposed between said third device and said fourth band-pass filter circuit.